‘Shimmer for Sakura’ at Handbags for Hospice 2026

Handbags for Hospice, a fundraising event supporting VON Sakura House, will return Feb. 6, 2026. With the Disco Fever theme, the organization is hoping guests will show up in their sparkly attire and “Shimmer for Sakura”. (Brittany Bratt photo)

Emily Stewart, Echo Correspondent

Victoria Order of Nurses (VON) Sakura House’s beloved fundraiser will return in early 2026.

VON Sakura House’s Handbags for Hospice will be held on Feb. 6, 2026, and will take attendees to the disco era with their theme Disco Fever.

“We can’t wait to see our community come out and Shimmer for Sakura,” manager of fund development, engagement, and philanthropy Brittany Bratt told the Echo. “Our theme in 2026 will be Disco Fever and it will feature lots of disco balls and shimmer!”

VON Sakura House last hosted Handbags for Hospice in 2024 and raised more than $300,000. Shimmer for Sakura will be the 12th Handbags for Hospice event.

The three main fundraising events for VON Sakura House are Handbags for Hospice, Lights of Love, and Hike for Hospice. The organization aims to fundraise more than a million dollars every year to provide quality end of life care for patients and support their families.

VON Sakura House is a hospice in Oxford County where patients receive round-the-clock palliative care at no cost to them. The hospice served 344 patients and their families in the past year.

“Although we are partially government funded, things like heat, hydro, groceries and maintenance are not,” Bratt said. “Our community supports us in so many ways that allow us to continue to offer quality end of life care to patients and their families.”

Tickets for the event will go on sale in October 2025. More information about Handbags for Hospice will be announced on the VON Sakura House social media pages.

The organization is also looking to recruit volunteers for the event. Anyone looking to volunteer for Handbags for Hospice can either call 519-709-8332 or send an email to oxfordgiving@von.ca.